Patent GB-1405777-A (GB)
Title: Hair dryer
IPC: A45D20/14
Filed: 1972-11-10
Abstract: 1405777 Hiar dryers SCHICK INC 10 Nov 1972 [28 Feb 1972] 52031/72 Heading A5R A portable hair dryer 20 includes a head assembly 22 with a rigid cover 30 and a rigid air distributor 34 which includes a generally annular plenum chamber a perforated interior wall 68, Fig 6, of which defines with the cover 30 a drying region for receiving the head, the cover 30 being mounted, e.g. pivoted, for movement between raised and lowered positions to impart respectively maximum and minimum volumes to the drying region. Air is vented from the head .assembly through adjustable openings in the top wall 66 of the cover. The cover which provides a handle 62 is maintained in either the raised or the lowered position by a latch assembly 134, Fig 6. The latch assembly 134 comprises a resilient latch member 136 mounted on the cover and having notches 154, 156 which receive the edges of an opening 157 in the upper wall 72 of the air distributor. The air distributor is elongated and is of approximately circular cross-section adjacent an air inlet end, and of oval and reduced cross-section remote from the air inlet end. The rear portion of the air distributor is formed by a generally cylindrical tube 76, Fig 8. The head assembly 22 is mounted by pivot assemblies 82, Fig 6 on a mounting unit 24 which is pivotally mounted on a base assembly 28. The. pivot assemblies 82 enable adjustable positioning of the head assembly and each include positioning rings (96, 98) Fig 7 (not shown) having ratchet teeth (100, 102) which are urged into engagement by a sinuous annular spring (108). The mounting unit is pivotally mounted on the base assembly by means of an annular flange 202, Fig 8, which is formed on the mounting unit and includes ratchet teeth (205), Fig 11 (not shown), which engage a pawl element (216) having teeth (218). The mounting unit may be adjustably positioned on the base assembly by pushing a button (214) downwardly which releases engagement of the pawl element (216). The tube 76, Fig 8, includes vent openings 192 which may be closed by a slide 194 having openings 196. The hair dryer may be held in a storage configuration, in which the head assembly and the base assembly nest together, by a latching assembly (56), Fig 12 (not shown). The latching assembly (56) includes a handle member (220) having a shank (224) which is received in the. top wall of the cover and carries an oblong head (228) adapted to be received in an opening 230 formed on an impeller housing 26, Fig 1, formed by a lower part of the mounting unit. The mounting unit is formed by two half-shells 160, 162, Fig 8, with a plate 164 disposed therebetween. A squirrel cage centrifugal blower 182 driven by a motor 176 is mounted on the plate 164. Air enters the interior of the mounting unit through louvred openings 40 provided on both sides of the base assembly; the air is directed through a conduit 188, which contains a heater unit 170, by the blower 182. The lower portion of the conduit 188 is of reduced cross-section; a scroll casing (200), Fig 9 (not shown), is formed in the impeller housing. The base assembly 28 includes a tray assembly 42 for receiving curlers etc. The cover (310) of the modified hair dryer (300) of Fig 14, (not shown), has an opening (318) formed in an upper and forward portion for venting air from the head assembly (302). The opening (318) is provided with a pivotally mounted door unit (316) which may be positioned in a plurality of open positions by means of a spring (342) having a rib (344) which engages grooves (346) in a cam (348). The cover (404) of the modified hair dryer (400) of Fig 17, (not shown), has an opening having a door unit (408) which is biased into either the open position or the closed position by a spring (416).